1. December 2015. It had been a tough slog of a hike over from neighboring Nature Beach in roasting afternoon temperatures, but finally the dense jungle trail brought us out into an opening to the entrance path that leads down to Coconut Beach.

2. December 2015. My initial thought upon entering Coconut Beach was that Wonderboy and I had missed a trick. Not that our stay at Nature Beach hadn’t been lovely, it had! But this beach, with its pure white sand and gorgeous turquoise bay, was clearly the real deal. In any case I felt glad we’d made the hike over to see it, especially as it was just us and two lone sleeping bodies at the other end.

3. December 2015. Wonderboy wasted no time in jumping straight into the water for a swim, while I found myself in a state of increasing hunger. Luckily, a nearby sign informed me that the beach restaurant was open. The catch? Said eatery was located at the top of a 150 step stone staircase. So up I went in search of sustenance, pausing every now and then to turn and look back at the ever-improving views across the bay.

4. December 2015. Coconut Beach Restaurant and Bar is set in a leafy courtyard with stunning views over the beach, across the bay and The Gulf of Thailand beyond. Setting my camera to work, I was able to zoom in on Wonderboy who had swum out pretty far! The food was good, a solid plate of fluffy banana pancakes with maple syrup.

5. December 2015. Having been suitably fed and watered, all that was left to do was go in the sea myself. The water was cool to the touch and the perfect antidote to the boiling hot afternoon. If you’re coming to Koh Rong and you’d like to stay on Coconut Beach the only option is Coconut Beach Bungalows. The bungalows go for $50 a night, while there are also tents available starting at $8. Better still, should you rock up with your own tent it’s free! The beach is located on the southwest of the island. First you’ll need to take a ferry to the island from the city of Sihanoukville (I’d recommend Buva) and then a pre-arranged boat transfer with Coconut Beach. They’ll pick you up from Koh Touch Village and bring you directly over.